me, myself And i...A Look At Assam From The Bottom Up

New Delhi, June 15 (PTI) Worried that any diversion of Brahmaputra river by China could impact his state, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will meet External Affairs Minister S M Krishna tomorrow to ask him to take up the issue with the neighbouring country.

Gogoi, who raised the issue during a meeting with the Planning Commission yesterday, said he was "very concerned" about reports of the Chinese plan as any diversion in the course of the river will affect Assam''s agricultural economy.

"We are very concerned as any diversion of the river may affect my state. I will meet the External Affairs Minister tomorrow as Government of India has to take up the issue with China," Gogoi said addressing a press conference here.

The Chief Minister said the issue had come up earlier also and he had taken up the issue then with the Prime Minister.

"It is not a new issue. I had taken up the issue with the Prime Minister and Water Resources Minister earlier also.
Chinese side had said that it will not affect downstream areas of Assam...But situation keep changing and we have to be careful," Gogoi said.

Termining it as a major issue for his state, he said "I am confident that Government of India will take appropriate step to safeguard the interest of the country as well as Assam."

Krishna on Monday had said his Ministry was seeking more details from China on these reports.

The Brahmaputra, which enters India from Tibet, is considered the lifeline of Assam.